"IS IT HUMAN?"

Forensic Anthropology Workshop for Law Enforcement (TCLEOSE Credited)
Thursday, October 18th, and Friday, October 19th 2007 from 9-5
Freeman Ranch, San Marcos, Texas
hosted by the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State (FACTS), Texas State University-San Marcos
$200 per person, lunch and handouts provided
DAY 1: Human vs. Non-Human Skeletal Remains
DAY 2: Forensic Taphonomy

Who Should Attend
The course is intended for all those involved in crime scene investigations. Being able to determine whether bones are human or non-human at the crime scene is of crucial importance. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of the field, this course is aimed at specialists trained in law enforcement, who wish to have an overview of Forensic Taphonomy and The Human Skeleton. The course is designed so that the participants may wish to go on to investigate aspects of the subject in more detail and will have the opportunity to attend our advanced workshop on these topics at a later date.

Course Goals
The goal of this course is to teach participants the difference between human and non-human bone and how important this knowledge can be during the investigation of crime. Participants will learn through a series of hands on lab exercises, lectures, and outdoor crime scene demonstrations.

Forensic Taphonomy
“Forensic taphonomy” is a subfield of forensic anthropology that examines how taphonomic forces have altered evidence that is the subject of a medicolegal investigation.

"IS IT HUMAN?"
You will learn the human skeletal system briefly enough to recognize human from non-human material at a crime scene. Taking this course will not make you an expert in determining animal bone from human bone, but will give you some insight and experience on the subject. You will have hands on contact with human and non-human bones, and will learn through lab and lecture.

Workshop Location
The workshop will be held at Freeman Ranch, RR12, San Marcos. Please visit the website below for complete directions to the ranch house. The ranch house is comfortable, air conditioned and is a great place to hold a workshop. You will find this a very comfortable venue for a workshop. For a number of years, the Freeman brothers hosted an annual party for the FBI on the premises, as you will discover if you read the inscription on the flagpole in front of the ranch house. The inscription commemorates the 20th annual FBI hunt and the friendship shared between the FBI and the Freeman brothers. It reads, "Presented to Mr. Joe and Harry Freeman in grateful appreciation by their FBI friends on the occasion of the 20th Annual FBI Hunting Party, November 1967."


Instructors:

Dr. Jerry Melbye, D-ABFA, F-AAFS
Forensic Anthropologist
Texas State University-San Marcos
Dr4n6@txstate.edu

Dr. Melbye is a certified forensic anthropologist and has over 35 years of combined experience in the field of physical/forensic anthropology. He has served law enforcement in the state of Texas and the country of Canada for many years in the recovery and analysis of human skeletal remains and has taught at the university level for over 35 years.

Dr. Michelle Hamilton
Forensic Anthropologist
Texas State University-San Marcos
mh69@txstate.edu

Dr. Michelle Hamilton is a Forensic Anthropologist and a new member of our faculty at Texas State University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, in 2004 under the direction of Drs. Marks and Bass. She is an expert in Forensic Taphonomy.


Please mail payment and completed forms to:
Texas State University-San Marcos
ATT: Dr. Melbye - Anthropology Dept.
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666-4616

For discounted hotel accommodation please contact:
Quality Inn ($59 per night) (map)
1433 I H 35 North, Exit 206
San Marcos, TX 78666
(512)-353-7770

Attendance is limited to 20 participants. Please register early as seats will fill up quickly.
For more information contact Dr. Melbye at dr4n6@txstate.edu

Visit the Texas State Forensic Anthropology website for more information. Watch for our upcoming workshop "Bodies, Bugs and Bones".